More intimate, upscale Colorado Mountain Winefest on tap for 2026

September festival to be capped at 2,000 attendees, who can connect deeply with winemakers

By Jay McKinney 

When summer closes and fall takes hold, the Colorado Mountain Winefest is the perfect way to grapple with the transitioning season. The wildly popular event attracts people from across the country and showcases some of the state’s best wines. In 2026, the festival will celebrate its 35th year while also making some changes to the format that are aimed at elevating the overall experience for guests. 

Held at Riverbend Park in Palisade, Colorado Mountain Winefest takes place during the middle of harvest season on the third Saturday in September. Over the years the event has been relished for bringing growers, winemakers and wine aficionados together for an unforgettable day of wine tasting, delicious food and live music.

Before COVID the festival saw between 6,000-8,000 attendees but since then it has attracted roughly 4,000-5,000 attendees. However, this year’s gathering will be significantly smaller in size with a capped capacity of less than 2,000 attendees. While it may seem like a counterintuitive measure to take for an industry that is eager to keep growing, the new format will make the event more exclusive, allowing wine lovers to interact with the industry leaders in a more intimate setting. 

Cassidee Shull is the executive director for the Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology (CAVE) and oversees the Colorado Mountain Winefest. Despite the festival’s vibrant atmosphere that has made it so popular, Shull says CAVE has received feedback that attendees often wish there were more meaningful engagement opportunities with winemakers. 

The new format for Colorado Mountain Winefest was partly inspired by Barrel Into Spring, another event put together by CAVE in April and May. For Barrel Into Spring, a maximum of 350 attendees tour seven different wineries during two separate two-day sessions in April and May. Attendees meet with winemakers over barrel tastings and curated food pairings by chefs. The 2026 Winefest will have that elevated educational component that people love about Barrel Into Spring along with the fun atmosphere of the festival’s previous format. 

“We’ll still have the live music and plenty of lounges and shaded seating, but it will just offer more room to connect with each other as well as our winemakers,” Shull says. “It really reflects the broader mission of our organization, which is championing the quality of wine, not just the volume of attendees at the event.”

Some of the most notable wineries across the state are regularly featured at the festival and Carboy Winery is one of them. Carboy CEO Kevin Webber has participated each time the winery has been involved and while he has enjoyed the event every year, he is looking forward to the upcoming changes in 2026. 

“I’m excited that we’re elevating the experience and breaking away from the buttoned-up, rinse-and-repeat version of wine festivals,” Webber says. “This feels less like standing in line with a glass and more like an adventure – exploratory, engaging, and actually fun. It’s a fresh way to experience Colorado wine, and that’s exactly where things should be headed.”

James Blanchard is co-owner of Blanchard Family Wines and agrees with Webber’s enthusiasm for the new format. Blanchard notes the significant decrease in alcohol consumption across the country as being an indicator for a new trend. While people are drinking less wine, they are seeking quality over quantity and really value connections to the brands they enjoy. A festival like this is a great opportunity for brands and consumers to build lasting relationships. 

“Consumers are no longer interested in standing in long lines in order to quickly sample a dozen wines, only to be moved along to make room for the next person,” Blanchard says. “They desire a more intimate, elevated and connected experience to the names and faces behind the products they are purchasing.”

Tickets for the 2026 Colorado Winefest are currently on sale through the festival’s website with the reserve tickets costing $325, while the signature tickets are $200. Both options provide a great opportunity to learn about Colorado wine while building a lasting connection to some of the state’s leading brands.